Want to mix it up? Try Cajun Shrimp Pasta or Grilled Cajun Shrimp. The flavor is so savory, garlicky and irresistible, you’ll hardly believe the prep time. It takes only 5 minutes to put together! Pair it with a quick veggie side or salad and you’ve got dinner. And that’s it! Let us know what you think of this Cajun shrimp in the comments below. Or head to Cajun Shrimp Pasta for another spin. This recipe honors the tradition of Cajun cooking by using the flavors common in this cuisine to make quick and easy pan-fried shrimp. Here’s what you’ll need to make it:
Shrimp: fresh or frozen, deveined and tail on Cajun seasoning: homemade or purchased Garlic powder Onion powder Olive oil
Medium to large shrimp: Look for medium shrimp, also labeled as 41 to 50 count (the number of shrimp per pound). Large shrimp also work, which are 31 to 40 count. Wild caught: Fish that is wild caught in your country is usually a sustainable choice. There are also quality options in well-regulated farms (see this Seafood Watch Consumer Guide). Tail-on or peeled: Tail-on looks the best out of the pan! But you can use peeled shrimp to make it easier for eating (or, make sure to serve with a bowl for discarded tails). Fresh or frozen: Frozen shrimp can be as high quality as fresh if it’s frozen as soon as it’s caught.
Season the shrimp: Pat the shrimp dry, then season it with Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Seasoning in advance helps the spices to be evenly distributed, instead of dumping them right into the pan (which can get clumpy). Sauté the shrimp: Add olive oil to your largest skillet, and sauté the shrimp about 1 to 2 minutes per side until cooked through.
Homemade seasoning: This homemade Cajun seasoning has incredible flavor using paprika, garlic and onion powder, thyme, fennel, cumin, and cayenne. You can customize the heat level to your liking. Err on the low side of the cayenne, or use even less if you’re very sensitive to heat. Purchased Cajun seasoning: Store-bought seasoning mixes can vary in heat level, so give is a little taste before adding. It really depends on the brand! Because our homemade seasoning is not as hot as most store-bought brands, you can use more of it when you season your shrimp.
Quick grains: Add White Rice, Lemon Rice, Easy Couscous, or Easy Orzo. Or, use a pre-cooked rice packet for a seriously quick meal (we like the brand Seeds of Change). Fast veggies: Try Peas with Lemon, Sauteed Peppers, Sauteed Mushrooms, Sauteed Broccoli, Sauteed Spinach, Sauteed Chard, or Sauteed Kale. Fast salad: Make Easy Arugula Salad or Spinach Apple Salad.
Go for Italian-style shrimp scampi, shrimp fra diavolo, garlic shrimp pasta, shrimp primavera, or shrimp risotto. Try simple shrimp marinade, a shrimp and rice recipe, or BBQ shrimp. Grab a shrimp stir fry, shrimp bowl, shrimp burger, shrimp nachos, or shrimp fajitas. Go for shrimp pasta or honey garlic shrimp.
5 from 2 reviews
½ teaspoon kosher salt 2 teaspoons purchased Cajun seasoning OR 1 ½ tablespoons homemade Cajun seasoning ½ teaspoon garlic powder ½ teaspoon onion powder 2 tablespoons olive oil
